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| People Missing and Buildings Destroyed in Canada Rail Blast | People Missing and Buildings Destroyed in Canada Rail Blast |
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| LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec — Several people were missing after four rail cars carrying petroleum products exploded early Saturday in a fiery blast in the middle of a small town in the Canadian province of Quebec, destroying dozens of buildings. | LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec — Several people were missing after four rail cars carrying petroleum products exploded early Saturday in a fiery blast in the middle of a small town in the Canadian province of Quebec, destroying dozens of buildings. |
| The explosion occurred shortly after 1 a.m. when a freight train derailed in Lac-Mégantic, a picturesque lakeside town of about 6,000 people near the Maine border. Although the police said they could not yet get close enough to determine whether there were any casualties from the fires, an aerial photograph showed widespread devastation in the town’s center. | The explosion occurred shortly after 1 a.m. when a freight train derailed in Lac-Mégantic, a picturesque lakeside town of about 6,000 people near the Maine border. Although the police said they could not yet get close enough to determine whether there were any casualties from the fires, an aerial photograph showed widespread devastation in the town’s center. |
| The French-language broadcaster Radio-Canada said one building at the center of town was a bar popular with young people. A witness told the broadcaster that the town center had been crowded at the time of the derailment. | The French-language broadcaster Radio-Canada said one building at the center of town was a bar popular with young people. A witness told the broadcaster that the town center had been crowded at the time of the derailment. |
| “Many parents are worried because they haven’t been able to communicate with a member of their family or an acquaintance,” Mayor Colette Roy-Laroche told Radio-Canada. | “Many parents are worried because they haven’t been able to communicate with a member of their family or an acquaintance,” Mayor Colette Roy-Laroche told Radio-Canada. |
| “We can’t give out any information on what’s happening right now because the firemen haven’t been able to get close.” | “We can’t give out any information on what’s happening right now because the firemen haven’t been able to get close.” |
| The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation said four pressurized tank cars blew up after the train, which had 73 cars in all, went off the rails. Pictures taken in the moments after the explosion showed a gigantic fireball rising high into the night sky. Residents told reporters they had heard five or six blasts. | The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation said four pressurized tank cars blew up after the train, which had 73 cars in all, went off the rails. Pictures taken in the moments after the explosion showed a gigantic fireball rising high into the night sky. Residents told reporters they had heard five or six blasts. |
| Nearly 10 hours after the derailment, one rail car was still burning. | Nearly 10 hours after the derailment, one rail car was still burning. |
| Fire officials said they feared more of the tanker cars were at risk of exploding. About 30 buildings in the town center were destroyed, some by the initial blast and others by the subsequent fire, they said. | Fire officials said they feared more of the tanker cars were at risk of exploding. About 30 buildings in the town center were destroyed, some by the initial blast and others by the subsequent fire, they said. |
| The police imposed a half-mile security zone around the blast site and evacuated about 1,000 people from their homes. | The police imposed a half-mile security zone around the blast site and evacuated about 1,000 people from their homes. |
| “When you see the center of your town almost destroyed, you’ll understand that we’re asking ourselves how we are going to get through this event,” a tearful Ms. Roy-Laroche said at a televised news briefing. | |
| Lac-Mégantic is part of the Eastern Townships region of Quebec, an area popular with tourists that is close to the Maine and Vermont borders. | |
| Huge clouds of thick black smoke were still rising from the center of Lac-Mégantic several hours after the disaster. | Huge clouds of thick black smoke were still rising from the center of Lac-Mégantic several hours after the disaster. |
| Fire officials said they had asked for help from fire services in the United States. About 20 fire engines were fighting the blaze. | Fire officials said they had asked for help from fire services in the United States. About 20 fire engines were fighting the blaze. |
| The police said some tanker cars had spilled their contents into the river that runs through the town. | The police said some tanker cars had spilled their contents into the river that runs through the town. |
| “I can say absolutely nothing about victims,” said a police spokesman, Michel Brunet. “We’ve been told about people who are not answering their phones, but you have to understand that there are people who are out of town and on holiday.” | “I can say absolutely nothing about victims,” said a police spokesman, Michel Brunet. “We’ve been told about people who are not answering their phones, but you have to understand that there are people who are out of town and on holiday.” |
| The train had been parked and the conductor was not aboard when “somehow, the train got released,” said Joseph McGonigle, a vice president of the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway. | The train had been parked and the conductor was not aboard when “somehow, the train got released,” said Joseph McGonigle, a vice president of the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway. |
| “We’re not sure what happened, but the engineer did everything by the book,” Mr. McGonigle said. “He had parked the train and was waiting for his relief.” | “We’re not sure what happened, but the engineer did everything by the book,” Mr. McGonigle said. “He had parked the train and was waiting for his relief.” |